Happy Valentine's Day, minna!  Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon doesn't belong to me.  Big suprise, ne? ^_~


Breaking the Ice
by Sailor M
Rated: G

Usagi hurried down the street after her long day at school.  She had
heard 
on the radio that the temperature had dropped considerably that day,
and 
that the wind chill was a record low for Tokyo.  She shivered as she
entered 
the arcade, glad for the warmth it offered.  How much longer would this

bitter cold hold out?  This had been the coldest winter that Usagi
could 
ever remember.  Tomorrow was Valentine's Day -- it wasn't supposed to
be 
this cold on Valentine's Day!

From inside the arcade, she looked up at the cloudy sky.  Her mother
had 
told her that morning that it smelled like snow, but Usagi was
doubtful.  It 
never snowed in Tokyo.  She slid into her favorite booth and fiercely
rubbed 
her hands together as she blew on them.  She really needed to get a
pair of 
gloves sometime soon.

"Hey, Usagi.  What would you like?" Motoki stood by her table ready to
take 
her order.

"A hot chocolate to start with, please," she smiled sweetly at him, her
eyes 
shining.

"It is cold out there, isn't it?"  At Usagi's furious nod, he laughed
and 
headed back to make the hot chocolate.  "I'll be right back with that
hot 
chocolate to warm you up."

Usagi went back to her previous objective of bringing feeling back into
her 
hands.  They were still half numb, but they were beginning to throb
from the 
heat.  *Man, I hate this cold.  You come into a warm place and you
start to 
hurt all over.*  She suddenly looked up as Mamoru blew in the door.

"Whew!  It's frigid out there!  I can't remember the last time I was
this 
cold."  Usagi almost laughed when she saw him, for he made a very silly

picture:  he wore a big, warm hat that almost hid all of his hair, but
the 
few strands that had managed to escape were tousled and hung in
disarray all 
over his face.  His hands were gloved and he wore a trench coat. 
Somehow he 
looked very different without his green jacket.  His cheeks were bright
red 
from the cold, and his ears seemed to glow red from underneath the
silly 
hat.  When he took off his hat, Usagi could control her laughter no
more.

"Mamoru, you look SO silly!"  She clutched her stomach as she fought
peals 
of laughter.  Not one inch of Mamoru's hair remained in place.  Most of
it 
stood straight up, and the rest of it fell across his face.

Mamoru tried valiently to straighten it out, but to no avail.  He cast
Usagi 
a whithering look before sitting down at the counter where Motoki was 
working.  Motoki took one look at Mamoru and chuckled softly.

"Man, you look ROUGH," he smiled.  "Is it that windy out there?"

"You have no idea," Mamoru grumbled.  "I think it's getting worse by
the 
minute."  Usagi brightened instantly.

"YEAH!  No school, no school, no school!"

"They don't cancel school for cold weather, Odango Atama," scoffed
Mamoru, 
"Besides, you'd still have to make up those days later on."

"Well thanks for bursting my bubble, jerk, and my name's Usagi.  Try to
get 
it through your thick skull if you can.  Or maybe your brain's still
frozen 
from being outside for too long."  She paused as if to think for a few 
seconds.  "No, wait.  It's not your brain that's frozen, it's your
heart.  
Now leave me alone, Mamoru!"

Mamoru rolled his eyes as he turned around to talk to Motoki again.

"What are you and Reika doing for Valentine's Day this year?"  He spoke
loud 
enough so that Usagi would be sure to hear.  For some reason he
couldn't 
identify, he wanted to make sure that Usagi knew that Motoki already
had a 
girlfriend.  And Motoki was only too kind to oblige.

"Well, I'm taking her to this really nice restaraunt for dinner, then
we're 
going to a movie and then to the park.  I got her a necklace, and I'm
going 
to get a dozen roses before I go see her.  In this weather, they would
die 
if I got them too soon, ya know?"  Mamoru nodded, his eyes wide as he
tried 
to agree with Motoki.  Mamoru had never had to deal with roses that
died in 
any weather, but he felt that he must sympathize with his best friend.

"Um, so what are you doing, Mamoru-kun?" Motoki asked hesitantly.

"Nothing."

"Again?  Mamoru, when are you going to start celebrating holidays? 
You're 
such a recluse."

"I'll start celebrating when I have someone to celebrate with," he
stated 
firmly.  Mamoru gulped down what was left of his drink and stood up. 
"I 
should go."

"No, wait, Mamoru-kun," Motoki called after him.  "Since you're not
doing 
anything, how about you cover for me while I go get ready for my date 
tonight?"  Mamoru raised his eyebrows at him.

"You mean close the arcade for you?  You've got to be kidding.  I need
to 
get home before whatever storm is out there hits."

"But you're the only one who knows how the arcade runs," Motoki
pleaded, 
"And you have nothing to do tonight.  You can close an hour early if
you 
want to."

"Fine," Mamoru sighed.  "But you had better make this up to me!"

"You're the best!" Motoki called as he handed Usagi her hot chocolate
and 
took off his apron.  "See you both tomorrow.  Wish me luck!"  He winked
and 
smiled at them both as he ran out.

"Oh, yeah.  Great luck," Usagi mumbled dejectedly.  Mamoru had happened
to 
overhear her and grinned as he sat down across from her in the booth.

"When are you going to give up that hopeless crush on Motoki?  Can't
you see 
that he only sees you as a friend?"

"Don't you have other customers to bother?" she snapped.  Mamoru made a
big 
show of looking around the arcade at the other two customers.  They
were 
both happily involved in video games.

"Nope.  Just you."  Usagi made a face and stuck her tongue out at him. 
She 
stood up and flounced over to the Sailor V game.  She dumped all of her

change to the counter and slowly counted it all out.

"Two fifty, two fifty-five, two fifty-six... what's two fifty-six plus 
twenty-five?" Her forehead wrinkled as she pondered the question. 
After a 
moment, she looked at her fingers and begin to count.  "Fifty-six, 
fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine..."

"Two eighty-one, Odango Atama.  No wonder you fail your math tests!"

"Shut up, Mamoru!  I was getting there!"  Looking at the quarter, she 
blushed and added it to her pile of counted money.  "Two eighty-one,"
she 
counted, "Two eighty-six, two ninety-six, three oh-one-"  Mamoru
laughed and 
shook his head as he wandered away to check on the other customers.

~~~

Two hours later, Usagi was still counting her money.  Well, what was
left of 
it. (AN: did you honestly think I was going to leave her counting money
for 
two straight hours! ^_^;)  She now only had twenty-two cents left, not 
nearly enough for one more game.  She searched her pockets desperately.
 
Maybe she had overlooked some stray quarter or two.  No such luck.

"Hey, Odango Atama!  When are you going to leave?  I want to go home --
 
It's getting pretty nasty out there."  Usagi turned around to snap at
Mamoru 
when she saw the deserted arcade.  She and Mamoru were the only ones
still 
there.  She looked briefly outside to see that it was pouring.  Rain
came 
down in sheets, pattering off of the windows.

"How long has it been raining, Mamoru?" she asked.

"About an hour.  It started just when that other kid left.  Come on.  I
want 
to leave!"

"Fine," she grumbled as she picked up her scattered belongings.  She
walked 
to the door quickly, bracing herself for the cold.  *Oh boy,* she
thought, 
*This is going to be a COLD walk home...*

The automatic doors opened, and Usagi shrieked as the blast of rain and
wind 
hit her in the face.  She squared her shoulders, however, and walked
bravely 
out the door... and promptly fell down.  She gasped as she grabbed her 
ankle.

"Ow ow ow ow ow!" She closed her eyes to shut out the pain, but the 
simultaneous attack of the wind, rain, and her throbbing ankle were
enough 
to send a violent shudder through her as she struggled to get back
inside 
where she would at least be dry and warm.  However, she soon found that
she 
could not get up.

"What's the matter, Odango Atama?  Fall again?" Mamoru stood over her,
a 
smug grin on his face.  He stepped out to help her out when he
momentarily 
lost his balance, too.

"Woah!" he cried as he grabbed the arcade door.  "That's icy!" 
Suddenly his 
eyes widened as he looked out at the roads, which were deserted and
covered 
with a layer of water... or what looked like water.

"Oh NO!" he cried, slamming his fist on the door.  He could have
uttered a 
few choice words, but his eyes were drawn to Usagi still sprawled on
the 
sidewalk clutching her ankle in pain.  Steadying himself, he bent down
to 
her.

"You okay?" he asked with suprising concern.

"No." she gritted through clenched teeth.

"Let me help you.  You'll be much more comfortable inside."  He gently 
picked her up and stepped carefully into the arcade.  He set her down
on a 
bench and went to turn on a radio.

"...police are warning citizens to remain cautious, especially on
roadways.  
Severe power-outages are expected over the next few hours as tree limbs

become laden with accumulated ice.  Nearly all roadways are impassible,
and 
the conditions are only expected to worsen over the next five hours. 
The 
storm system is expected to pass sometime in the early morning
tomorrow.  
Again, residents are warned that the roadways are extremely treacherous
and 
anyone who must, and we repeat MUST, venture out should use caution and

should NEVER attempt to cross a bridge or overhang.  Now to an update
from 
our storm center..."  Mamoru cut off the radio in frustration.  He
would NOT 
be stuck in the arcade for the night!  Especially not with her!  He
looked 
over at Usagi.  She was holding her right foot gently in her hands.  It
had 
swollen up to twice its normal size already.  She needed to see a
doctor 
soon.  *You're a doctor,* he annoying little voice told him.  He
brushed it 
aside as he thought of the comforts of his home.

"Usagi?"  She looked up at him in suprise.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to try to get home.  You want to come with me?"  Usagi saw
the 
unsoken question in his eyes: would she rather risk the roads by
herself 
with a hurt foot, or in a car with him?

"But the roads are REALLY dangerous!  We could get hurt."

"Do you want to be stuck here all weekend if the power goes out?" 
Usagi's 
eyes widened as she looked around.

"Fine," she conceded, "But you have to get me home soon."  Mamoru
nodded as 
he put his hat and trench coat on again.  He pulled his keys out of his

pocket and then lifted Usagi up.

"Hey!  I can walk!"

"I'm taking no chances with that ankle, Odango Atama.  I'll not have
you say 
that I caused you to get hurt."  Usagi seethed quietly from his arms,
but 
when they took the first step outside, she was glad for the comfort and

warmth of his arms.  At times she could tell that they had hit a
particuarly 
icy patch when Mamoru walked a little slower, but for the most part he
was 
very steady.  When they reached his car, he broke the ice cycles off of
the 
door to let her in.  He gently placed her in the passenger's side, then

hurried off to his side.

The drive home was treacherous at best.  Several times Usagi was afraid
that 
the car would fly off of the road, but Mamoru always managed to somehow

regain control.  When they were about five minutes from Usagi's house,
they 
came upon a road block.  A police officer came up to the car.

"What are you doing out in this mess?" the lady asked.

"We're trying to get home."

"Well, I'm afraid you won't be getting there this way.  The bridges are
way 
too dangerous."  Mamoru's eybrows creased.

"What roads aren't closed on the way to Highwood St.?"  The officer
checked 
a sheet.  She shook her head.

"I'm afraid that you're out of luck.  I can't see any way there.  You
might 
want to stay in a hotel for the night.  Maybe you can get home
tomorrow."  
She turned to leave.

"Wait!  What about 22nd street?  Is there anyway there?"

"Yes.  Downtown's a lot less messy than the suburbs.  Be careful,
though."  
Mamoru nodded and drove off.  Usagi sat in the seat stunned.  There was
no 
way for her to get home.  She couldn't go home for who knows how
long... 
what would she do?

"Mamoru?" she broke the silence meekly, "Where are we going?"

"My apartment," he answered gruffly, eyes trained to the road.

"Oh." Her voice was small, barely even recognizeable to herself.  She
tried 
to ignore the pain in her ankle and the fear in her heart as Mamoru
drove 
slowly down the road.

~~~

She breathed a sigh of relief when they pulled up into the parking deck
in 
the back of Mamoru's apartment building.  No more driving on ice.  She
felt 
a little silly being carried into Mamoru's apartment complex, though. 
The 
man at the desk gave them a strange look, but neither she nor Mamoru
said 
anything to explain.  Mamoru opted to take the stairs as opposed to the

elevator, since the electricity could go out at any moment.  To do
this,  he 
had to climbed nine flights of stairs with her in his arms.  Usagi was 
suprised that he was able to manage such a feat.  She knew that she
couldn't 
be too light, what with all she ate.  But at last they reached his 
apartment, and he opened the door to reveal an immaculate, expensively 
furnished living room.  He placed her on his couch and went in search
of his 
medical tools.

When he returned, he gently took off her shoe.  Usagi told herself
fiecely 
that she would not give Mamoru any chance to see her hurting, but she
could 
not help the small whimper of pain that passed her lips.  Her ankle had

swollen considerably, but Mamoru was able to tell from the start that
no 
bone was broken.  It was probably just a bad sprain, but that could
only be 
determined by an x-ray.  There was still the possibility of torn
muscles and 
ligaments or fractures.  Nonetheless, Mamoru was very relieved to know
that 
his elementary knowledge of medicine would be enough to keep her at
least 
comfortable until they could get to a doctor.  He gently wrapped her
ankle 
in an ace bandage before putting a package of ice on it and propping it
up.

"Ooh!  That's cold!" Usagi cried.

"That's the point, silly.  The ice will make the swelling go down." 
Usagi 
still pouted.

"But it was cold outside.  I thought we came inside to get warm!"

"If it will make you feel better, I'll get you some blankets to keep
you 
warm..."  He went to a closet in the hallway where there were several
thick 
blankets and quilts that he had acquired over the years.  He picked a
couple 
of them out and tucked them securely around her.

"All warm now?" he asked, winking.

"All except my feet," was her sharp reply.  Mamoru threw up his hands
and 
smiled at her.

"I don't think that I'll ever understand you, Odango Atama.  Well...
what 
would you like to do while you're stuck here?"  Usagi's eyes instantly 
sparkled.

"You got any food?"

"Uh-uh," Mamoru shook his head, "We don't know how long we're going to
be 
here, so I won't let you eat all of my food the first day.  We'll eat
dinner 
tonight, but nothing else before then."

"Meanie.  You got any manga?"  Mamoru stared at her blankly for a
moment 
before laughing in confusion.

"You know what's funny?  I don't think that I've ever actually read a
manga. 
  I just never got around to doing it."  Usagi looked at him
incredulously.

"So what do you do for fun?"

"Fun?  What's that?" he teased.  "Well... I like to watch the news,
read the 
paper, tease you, hang out with Motoki..."

"What a boring existence," Usagi stated solemnly.  "I pity you."

Mamoru sat down on in a reclining chair next to the couch Usagi was
lying 
on.  He was trying hard to ignore her last comment, but even he knew
the 
truth behind it.  He mentally shook himself before turning on the tv
for 
distraction.  Almost all of the stations were airing reports about the 
storm, and neither of them were in a mood to watch that right now. 
They 
were both very tired of this storm already.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" he asked her, glancing through his
quite 
impressive colletion of movies.  Usagi shrugged.

"What do you have?  'The 60-Minutes Home Library'?  'Learn Algebra 14
From 
Home'?"

"No!" He playfully swatted her. "Although I did consider buying several
of 
my favorite 60-Minutes episodes once... but I restrained myself." 
Usagi 
rolled her eyes.  "Have you ever seen Mulan?"

"The Disney film set in China?"

"That's right.  It's about a girl warrior."

"What are you doing with a kid's movie?  I never would have guessed
that you 
were the Disney type, Mamoru."  He blushed noticibly and
self-consciously 
glanced at his rather extensive collection of Disney classics.

"They... they're good stories... with deep themes and... and stuff..."
he 
stammered.  Usagi cracked up from her seat on the couch, twisting and 
gasping for air as she laughed and laughed.

"Deep THEMES?!?!  I don't believe it!"  When her laughing fit had died
down 
to spontaneous giggling, Mamoru folded his arms and stared at her.

"Are you finished?"

"Sorry," she grinned.  "So, Mamoru, what's your favorite Disney movie? 
You 
know, I could really see you as Jafar -- or maybe Abu!.  What do you
think?" 
  (AN: For those of you who are Disney illiterate, Jafar was the villan
in 
Aladdin.  Abu was the monkey.)

"Actually, I really like Beauty and the Beast."

"Yes, you can really be a beast sometimes!"  Mamoru shot her a look,
and she 
held up her hands in defense.  "Hey!  You stepped right into that one!"

"Hmph," Mamoru scowled.  "So what's your favorite Disney movie, Odang-"

"Don't even say it.  My name is Usagi," she interrupted angrily, "and
for 
your information, it's a tie between Bambi and Sleeping Beauty."

"And I'll bet your favorite character is Thumper, right 'Usagi'?"

"Well... uh, yeah.  But that has nothing to do with my name!  I just
think 
he's cute."

"You know, it's been a really long time since I've seen Sleeping
Beauty.  I 
just remember thinking that it was such a sad story," Mamoru mused.

"Oh!  But it's the sweetest plot story ever!  The princess is put under
a 
sleeping spell, and her handsome prince wakes her up with a kiss." 
Usagi 
sighed dreamily as her eyes sparkled in delight.

"Wakes her with a kiss," Mamoru mumbled to himself, softly enough that
Usagi 
had to strain to hear him.  "I'll have to try that on her next time..."

"Try it on who, Mamoru?" Usagi asked breathlessly, "Oh, tell me, tell
me!  I 
can't believe that stiff old Mamoru has a girl!  Who is she?  Who is
she?"

"Er... nobody, Odango.  Nobody.  Just forget I ever said that." 
Usagi's 
eyes watered up slightly, shimmering with tears.  Her lower lip
trembled and 
her voice waivered when she spoke.

"But you know who I like.  Why won't you tell me who you like?" 
Inwardly, 
Usagi was grinning.  She knew that no one could resist the power of her

puppy face.

True to her prediction, Mamoru's face crumpled at the sight of her
apparent 
distress, and he quickly sought to make amends.

"No, no, Usagi, it isn't like that.  It's just that you would laugh if
I 
told you..."  Instantly her eyes widened into her patented "I'm
completely 
innocent and I would never lie to you" face.

"Of course I wouldn't laugh, Mamoru."  Finally, not even the
self-controlled 
Mamoru could hold out.

"Well... I suppose you could say that she is my dream girl."

"Yes?"

"I don't know her name, but I do know that she's a princess.  She-"

"You're in love with Princess D?"  Usagi made a face as she remembered
the 
ball where she'd met the princess.  Princess D, strangely enough,
reminded 
her of Umino.  The two could honestly be related.

"No!" Mamoru shot Usagi a panicked look.  "No, I don't like Princess D.
 
Usagi, I don't really want to talk about this, so let's just watch the 
movie, okay?"  Usagi shrugged.

"Sure.  If you don't want to tell me, that's your business."

Usagi really enjoyed Mulan.  There was something about being Sailor
Moon 
that made her really enjoy female warrior stories.  Mulan reminded her
a lot 
of herself: not being very feminine, disgracing her family, being a
secret 
warrior... Usagi only hoped that everything turned out as well for her
as it 
did for Mulan.

Mamoru had seen Mulan so many times that he could quote nearly the
entire 
movie.  Everytime he watched it, he thought of Sailor Moon.  Who was
she 
really?  How did she feel about hiding her identity from everyone? 
Despite 
the fact that he was very proud of her, he wished with all of his heart
that 
she would quit the super-hero business.  The youma were too dangerous
for 
such a fragile girl such as herself, and Mamoru would rest easier if he
knew 
that she would be safe.  Not that that would ever happen, mind you. 
Mamoru 
knew that Sailor Moon had a huge heart and could not stand to see
anyone 
hurt.  She would continue to fight if it meant her own life.  Like how
Mulan 
risked her life to save her father's.

"I love how in Disney movies the bad guy always loses," Usagi stated 
solemnly.

"Yeah.  Life is perfect at the end of them.  The bad guy dies, the guy
and 
girl hook up, and they all live happily ever after.  Yeah right!  In
real 
life, none of that happens."

"You can't be serious, Mamoru!  Surely some people can live happily
ever 
after, don't you think?"

"Naw.  In real life, the bad guy destroys the lives of the guy and
girl, 
then he kills them.  Happily ever after doesn't exist."

"But...but...that's not true!"  Usagi was propped up halfway on the
couch, 
her eyes wide in disbelief.  Mamoru locked eyes with her.

"Do you really believe in that?"

"YES!" she exclaimed.  "Yes, I believe in happy endings, and nothing
you can 
say will change that.  I know that some people have happy lives, and I 
intend to be one of them."

"And who have you ever seen to have a happy ending?"  Usagi was silent
for a 
moment, but her eyes were hard and unchanging as she continued to stare

Mamoru down.

"I know that somewhere, somehow, someone has lived happily ever after,
and 
that means that I can, too.  And I will.  Even if I'm the only one, I
will 
beat the bad guy, I will get my guy, and I will live happily ever
after.  So 
there, Mamoru!"

"I admire that, Usagi," he smiled softly.  "You haven't given up.  How
are 
you still so idealistic?  The world is a difficult place; how are you
able 
to still believe in fairy tales?"

"I don't know," she shrugged.  "I guess I was just born that way."

"Well, Usagi, I hope that however your life ends up, it will be happy
enough 
for you.  You deserve to have a happy ending."

"Thank you, Mamoru."  Mamoru stood up and stretched, then glanced at
the 
clock.

"It's getting late.  Do you need to call your parents?"  He handed her
the 
phone, then headed for his bedroom.  "The guest bedroom is over there. 
Let 
me know when you want to go to bed, and I'll take you in there."

Usagi blushed, not sure if she liked being an invalid.  She didn't like
the 
fact that she had to depend on Mamoru like this.  She felt so useless. 
She 
lazily dialed her number and waited until her mom answered the phone.

"Usagi?" her mom asnswered the phone breathlessly.

"Yeah, mom.  How did you know it was me?"

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?  YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK!  YOUNG

LADY, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!"

"MOM!"

"Yes?"

"I'm fine.  I got caught in the storm, so I can't get home tonight. 
Please 
don't worry about me, okay?  I'll be fine."

"Honey, where are you?"

"At Chiba Mamoru's house," she said hesitantly.  She was met with
silence.

"Mom?"

"You're staying weat a guy's house?  Overnite?"

"Yeah, well, I kind of hurt my ankle on the ice, so it was either his 
apartment or the sidewalk of the arcade.  I'll be fine mom, and I
promise to 
be good."

"You just wait 'till your father hears about this.  He'll either kill
Mamoru 
or force you to get married."  She sighed.  "All right, dear.  But call
me 
in the morning, okay?  I miss you!"

"I miss you, too mom.  Bye!"

"Bye.  I love you!  And be careful with your foot."

"I will."  When Usagi hung up, she turned to see Mamoru watching her. 
Ti 
was avery disconcerting feeling, and Usagi squirmed under his gaze.

"What is it, Mamoru-san?"

"I was just thinking about earlier," he said, his face thoughtful and
still, 
"Do you know that in the last hour and a half, neither one of us has 
insulted the other?  We actually got along for an hour and a half."  He

shook his head in disbelief.  "How did that happen?"

Usagi binked her eyes, trying desperately to think of something mean
that he 
had said to her since they had started watching the movie.  She
couldn't.

"Wow," was all she could think to say.  Mamoru smiled at her verbose
answer, 
and causally sat down opposite her.

"You know what, Usagi?  I kind of enjoyed not fighting with you.  I
don't 
know why I didn't try it before."  He smiled at her, and she offered
him a 
shy smile in return.

"Well... I'll have to admit that I like this approach a little better. 
I 
especially like being called Usagi!"  She paused, suddenly pensive.  
"Mamoru-san?  Why did we fight in the first place?"

"I don't know, Usagi.  I guess neither of us really wanted to know the 
other, so we fought to keep each other at a distance."

"That's not why I was mean to you!" Usagi cried defensively.

"Oh?  But it is why I teased you..." he spoke softly.

"Really?" she whispered.

"Well, either that or because you look so cute when you're mad!" 
Usagi's 
mouth fell open as she simultaneously turned beet red.

"I... I do not!" she sputtered.  "That's so mean!"

"But it's the truth," he grinned.  She folded her arms across her
shoulders 
and looked the other way for a moment.  When she turned back, all
traces of 
anger were gone.

"What did you mean when you said that you teased me to keep me at a 
distance?"  When she looked at him, Usagi thought that he looked like a

frightened child.

"I don't know... I suppose it's because I never much liked people
invading 
my life, and people like you always end up hurting me."

"People like me?" she asked gently.

"Yeah, you know, popular, happy, energetic, normal... pretty..."  Usagi

laughed harshly.

"Maybe I can give you happy and energetic (although neither applies
before 
eleven in the morning), but popular?  Normal?  Pretty?  I don't think
that 
I'm any of those."

"Why not?"

"Well... take tomorrow for instance.  Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and
I 
have no one to spend it with.  All of my other friends do.  Even Umino;
he 
has Naru.  But no one wants me."

"I'm sure that's not true, Usagi-chan.  There are probably tons of guys
who 
are dying to ask you out, but they just don't have the nerve."

"Yeah, well," she shrugged, "It really doesn't matter to me anymore.  I
know 
it won't change anytime soon.  At least, not until I start getting
better 
grades, learn to be on time, and learn how to walk without falling flat
on 
my face."  Mamoru shook his head furiously.

"You're wrong, Usagi-chan.  If you ever really change, you won't be you

anymore.  If someone won't like you for who you are, they don't deserve

you."

"Well, what about you, Mamoru-san?  Who do you have?"

"No one," he answered quickly.  "I'll always be alone."

"But you're perfect!" she cried in disbelief.  Realizing what she said,
she 
blushed and ducked her head.  "What I meant was that you seem to have a

perfect life.  You have a nice apartment, a cool car, you get good
grades, 
you have a great best friend..."

"And I hate to let people into my life," he finished for her.  "No one 
really knows me, and no one really cares about me.  To them, I'm just 
another face."  Mamoru had just enough time to see the lokk of
compassion on 
Usagi's face before the lights went off.  Usagi instantly shrieked,
burying 
her head under the quilts.

"Turn the lights back on, Mamoru!" she cried tearfully.  "It's too
dark!"

"Don't worry, Usagi.  I was prepared."  He calmly turned on his
flashlight, 
then proceeded to light several candles around the room.  He then went
to 
his fireplace and started a fire.  The room was far from being lit up,
but 
at least they could now see.

"You can come out now, Usagi."

~~~

Mamoru and Usagi had spent the last hour eating a small meal and
playing 
cards which Mamoru had found.  He had taught her how to play double 
solitaire, and she had taught him how to play spit.  Then they had
played 
rummy, speed, and poker.  Now, Usagi was teaching Mamoru how to play go

fish.  To Usagi's dismay, Mamoru was very good at all card games, and
the 
only one she had been able to win at all had been speed.  She planned
on 
teaching him old maid next, which required absolutely no skill or
speed.

If she were to be completely honest with herself, she would have to say
that 
she had enjoyed spending so much time with him.  Mamoru was funny, 
entertaining, and comfortable to talk to.  Why she had never noticed
this 
before was puzzling to her.

She looked longingly at the now blank TV, trying to will it on by mind 
control.  She was having no luck, but Mamoru had ahppened to notice her

stare.

"Just how much TV do you watch in a day?"

"Oh... it depends.  On a normal day, maybe about three hours."

"Three HOURS?"

"Yeah, well, it's more when I don't have detention."  Mamoru burst out 
laughing.

"Usagi, you are too funny.  I don't think I've ever met anyone as cute
as 
you."

"What's so funny about that?" she asked angrily.

"Don't be mad, Usagi.  Really!" he laughed. "It's just that I watch
about 
three hours of TV a WEEK!"  She finally managed to smile back at him,
then 
she began to giggle, unable to stop herself.

"Ok, Mamoru-san.  I forgive you.  But do you really think that I'm
cute?" 
she asked impishly.  Usagi could barely make out his blush in the dimly
lit 
room, but she could tell that he was embarrased by her question.  
"Mamoru-san?"  The atmosphere suddenly tensed.

"I don't know, Usagi-chan.  I do think that you act very cute -- like a

little child -- but I'm not sure..."  Mamoru grasped for something to
say to 
express what he was feeling.  "I'm not sure just how I see you."

"Oh," she replied in a small voice.  "Um.. Mamoru-san?  I'm kind of
tired.  
Do you think I could go to sleep?"  He quickly nodded, glad for the
excuse 
to stop this conversation.  He gently picked her up off of the couch
and 
carried her into the guest room.  Once she was settled in, he hurried
into 
his room and leaned back on the door as he shut it.  He knew that he
would 
be in for a very troubled sleep.

~~~

When Usagi awoke the next morning, she carefully hobbled out of bed to
look 
out the window.  She leaned precariously against the wall as she looked
out.

Usagi was very disappointed.  The storm which had knocked out power and
made 
her hurt her ankle had not even left anything worth seeing.  The world 
looked exactly the same as it had before, only wet.  She scowled as she

thought of going to school the next day.  No Fair!

She heard someone enter the room, and turned to see Mamoru.

"You shouldn't be walking on that ankle," he stated calmly.

"I just wanted to see what it looked like outside," she replied.  He
walked 
over to her and picked her up.

"Come on," he smiled at her, "I'll make you some breakfast -- the power
came 
back on."

"Really?" she grinned.

"Yup, and I've got a whole lot of food that needs to be eaten.  What
would 
you like?"

"OOH!  I'd like pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, cereal, and-"

"Okay, okay!  This may take a while, though," he told her as he set her
down 
in a chair in the kitchen.

Usagi watched him as he started making her breakfast.  She had learned
more 
about him in the little time she had spent with him since they came to
his 
apartment then she had ever known before.  There was something very
special 
about him, something that she had never noticed before -- something she
had 
never wanted to see before -- and she liked it.  She realized rather 
belatedly that today was Valentine's Day, and that she would probably
be 
spending most of it with him, and the thought didn't scare her like it 
should have.  It rather thrilled her.  She smiled at the picture he
made 
cooking her breakfast.  He wore a cute little apron, and he was
bustling 
about the kitchen checking on the pancakes, the toast, the eggs...

Somewhere in her heart, a tender feeling began to well up.  She found
her 
heart beating faster and her smile widening.  Usagi was in love.

"Breakfast is served, Odango!"  Usagi instantly reddened as she
realized 
that she had been staring at him the entire time.

"Don't call me that," she replied half-heartedly as she reached for the

plate.  Their eyes met.

"Then what should I call you?" he whispered as he set the plate down
and 
took the seat next to her.

"What would you like to call me?" she asked just as softly.  They
looked 
into each other's eyes for a long time before Mamoru reached his hand
up to 
gently touch her face.

"What would you think if I called you Usa-ko?" he finally said, a hint
of 
nervousness in his voice.  Usagi blushed furiously, but smiled
nonetheless.

"Usako... I... I think I'd like that," she giggled.

"What is it about you, Usako?  You're so perfect, but why didn't I ever

notice it before?"

"Stop it, Mamoru.  I'm not perfect."

"Yes you are.  I just never noticed it because I never really knew you.
 You 
were only another face in the crowd."  Usagi looked down.

"Why were we so stupid?"

"I don't know, Usako."  Usagi rested her head against his shoulder and 
sighed contentedly.  Mamoru looked down at her and kissed the top of
her 
head.

"Aishiteru, Usako."  She turned her face up to look at him and leaned
up for 
a kiss.

"Aishiteru, Mamoru.  Happy Valentine's Day.

~~~

THE END

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